"Good child, I'm so happy that you think this way!" Old Madam Shen looked at Shen Yuan with satisfaction, feeling that she was exceptionally obedient today and much more sensible than when she first entered the General's Mansion.
Sure enough, after spending three months in their general's mansion and receiving the family's education, all the rustic airs on her body were washed away.
Before Old Madam Shen could even rejoice, Shen Yuan said, "Jiang has committed countless crimes by murdering the matriarch and legitimate sons and daughters of the Shen family. She is now a criminal! She took my mother's place in the General's Mansion without a matchmaker or betrothal, so she cannot be considered a legal wife. At most, she is a concubine. Since she is a concubine, then Sister Yun Jin and Brothers Chang Shu and Qing Shu should also be illegitimate children."
No sooner had Shen Yuan finished speaking than a cold shout came from outside the study door.
"You think you're worthy of competing with me for the title of the General's daughter?"
With her three-month pregnant belly, Shen Yunjin was helped into the room by her maid. She was wearing a long, flowing scarlet dress embroidered with peonies. She gracefully stepped into the study.
She bled that night, so she had to rush back to the Crown Prince's residence.
The day after returning to the Crown Prince's residence, she planned to bring the Crown Prince's guards to her door to trample the arrogant Shen Yuan underfoot, teach her a lesson, and make her never dare to flaunt her power in front of her and her mother again.
But before she could go to the Crown Prince's residence, she heard from Peach Blossom that Jiang had been sent to the Dali Temple, that Jiang was implicated in a murder case, that the Jiang family originally had two daughters, and that Jiang had killed her own sister and then taken her place in the General's Mansion, where she gave birth to her and her brother.
How could she possibly accept this?
Her mother was originally the mistress of the General's Mansion, and she was originally the eldest daughter of the General's Mansion. Because of Shen Yuan's appearance, her title as the eldest daughter was taken away, and now even her status as the eldest daughter is about to be taken away.
She is the Crown Princess!
If she is just a concubine's daughter, how will she suppress the concubines and mistresses of the Crown Prince's mansion in the future?
Therefore, Shen Yunjin could not accept Jiang Shi becoming a concubine no matter what. She raised her eyes and coldly glanced at Shen Yuan: "My mother gave birth to three children for my father and served him for seventeen years. She deserves credit for her hard work. Your mother was my father's first wife, so my mother should be his second wife."
"You want to demote my mother to a concubine, but my mother has given birth to two sons for the General's Mansion. If she becomes a concubine, does that mean this huge General's Mansion will be left without a legitimate son?"
Shen Yuan: "Who said there are no legitimate sons? My mother gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, and I also have an older brother named Shen Duan! He is the eldest legitimate son of the Shen family!"
"You mean... I have a son/grandson?"
Shen Wei and Madam Shen asked at the same time.
Shen Yuan nodded.
Seeing this, Shen Yunjin pinched her palm hard. How could her mother be so useless? Since she could kill Jiang Qinxue back then, why couldn't she kill Shen Yuan and Shen Duan together?
They left behind the two siblings and the three other siblings to fight over the family property!
Shen Yunjin took a deep breath and sneered, "Where is your brother now? I'm afraid even you don't know! It's unknown whether he's alive or dead, he might already be dead..."
"Shen Yunjin, you're pregnant, yet you curse others to die. Aren't you afraid your child will suffer the consequences of its mother's karma!"
"you……"
Shen Yunjin was enraged by Shen Yuan's words, and her anger caused her stomach to cramp.
Startled, Old Madam Shen quickly helped Shen Yunjin up. She looked at Shen Yuan and scolded, "What do you mean by legitimate sons and illegitimate daughters? Our General's Mansion doesn't follow that rule. A son's status is determined by his father. Your father is the Great General, so you are all the Great General's children!"
Shen Wei did not respond.
But Shen Yuan knew that Shen Wei did not want to demote Jiang to the status of a concubine.
Even if he loved his mother back then, so what? Seventeen years is a long time; too many things can change in that time.
Shen Yuan shook her head and smiled bitterly. Even if Shen Wei reluctantly sent Jiang Shi to prison, it was only sacrificing one piece to save the other three.
But the more he wanted to protect the children left behind by Jiang, the less she wanted them to have a good life!
Just as tensions were rising inside, Steward Cheng's voice suddenly rang out from outside, "General, an imperial edict has been issued, inviting you and your family to the Dragon Boat Festival banquet."
Upon seeing Butler Cheng, Shen Yuan's eyes darkened slightly.
The conversation had been interrupted, and Shen Wei probably didn't want to continue the topic, so he said to Shen Yuan, "Your father is injured and cannot drink alcohol, so it is inconvenient for me to go to the palace to attend the banquet prepared by the Emperor. In a couple of days, you will go to the palace to attend the banquet in your father's place, along with Chang Shu and Qing Shu!"
Shen Yunjin frowned: "How could Father let her enter the palace? Does she even know which way the palace gates face? She's just a village girl who grew up in the countryside; she doesn't know anything about court etiquette. If we let her attend the banquet, wouldn't that make the General's Mansion a laughingstock?"
"That's settled then. If you don't want the General's Mansion to lose face, then help and guide your sister more!"
Shen Wei's words were clearly intended to ease the tension between Shen Yuan and Shen Yunjin, but the two women glanced at each other and saw the hatred in each other's eyes before quickly looking away.
Shen Yuan did indeed want to attend the palace banquet, since she could see many people she wanted to see at the banquet.
So, taking advantage of Shen Wei's still feeling guilty towards her daughter, she agreed to the matter.
After leaving the study, Shen Yunjin went straight back to the Crown Prince's residence and did not stay at the General's residence for a meal.
Shen Yuan looked at Steward Cheng, who was standing under the eaves of the courtyard, and suddenly asked, "Steward Cheng, how many years have you been working in this General's Mansion?"
"It's been about ten years, so it must have been earlier than when the young lady entered the manor." Butler Cheng bowed slightly to Shen Yuan, but there was not a trace of respect between a servant and his master in his eyes.
Shen Yuan smiled and asked, "How old is Steward Cheng today?"
"I'm forty-two."
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